My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter
My Alpha’s Wolfless Daughter – Chapter 19

Future Beta Nate

Duke was trying to track Ruby. She was ignoring the mind link. She was the one who linked me when everything went done. My mind was still racing with how I came upon Ayla. Her hand and forearm had shifted, and she was covered in black opal scales. The scales covered her like armor, protecting her from Bailey’s claws. Storm clouds covered her eyes as she stared at her victim, Bailey.

Whatever Bailey had said or done triggered Ayla. And the only one who seemed to know what was going on was the alpha. My voice pulled her out of whatever she was in, but even the alpha was having a hard time holding Ayla back. She wanted Bailey dead.

“And you were the one making out with her after replaceing our mate!” Duke growled. My stomach had been in knots of guilt ever since the alpha said I cheated on the bond.

“I f****d up, I get it. I should have tried harder to replace her! I apologized to her, and she said she forgave me.” I growled back.

“Doesn’t change what you did,” he sneered before sniffing. He caught Ruby’s scent and took off. I mind linked Mitch.

“I think we found her.”

“I see you,” he said, and he was running up beside me as we took off towards the waterfall.

Ruby shouldn’t be out here by herself. She hasn’t shifted into her wolf yet and with all the rogue attacks, it’s not safe. When we entered the clearing, the moon was high in the sky, looking over the waterfall. The place looked magical, and I knew I wanted to bring Ayla up here. It wasn’t an easy hike up this way and it surprised me Ruby made it up here as fast as she did.

Duke walked over to Ruby, who was sitting by the pool of the falls. She was sitting there with her arms wrapped around her knees. And I could hear she was crying. Duke nudged her before he sat down beside her.

“Nate, I’m sorry. Ayla should never have done what she did. I didn’t even know what was happening. Bailey slapped her and Jaden had her pinned to his body. He called her feisty and then all hell broke loose. She yelled at me to run. I shouldn’t have left her. Is she okay?” She cried.

“Jaden is going to die for touching our mate,” Duke growled at me.

“Ruby, what has Bailey done?” Mitch asked. He had shifted and was standing behind us.

“Mitch, please go away. I don’t want to relive it.” She sniffled, hugging Duke’s neck.

“Ruby, I know you are my mate. And I should have protected you.” Mitch said and Ruby stood up and whipped around to face him. The dress she was wearing was covered in mud and torn.

“Mate? How many girls have you f****d, knowing that I will be your mate?” She yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks. Duke brushed up against her.

“Ruby, I’ve only been with two women. My high school girlfriend and then I had a one-night stand after she broke up with me. She found her mate, and I was pissed. I know you think I’m just this man w***e who f***s every girl who looks at me, but I’m not. And I’ve felt the pull for about four months now. I would never cheat on our bond or on you.” My best friend opened up to my sister, and I was even a little surprised.

I also thought he was a massive player after his girlfriend found her mate. I know it was rough on him and he hated love and relationships after that. Clearly, he wasn’t the person I even know.

Duke looked up at my sister, who was stunned by Mitch’s confusion.

“At least someone is true to their mate,” Duke huffed.

“How many times do I need to say I’m sorry!” I yelled at him and he ignored me.

“You’re telling the truth?” Ruby asked Mitch.

“Yes. And I’m so sorry for whatever my sister did. I would have protected you if I had known. Why didn’t you tell me? Or Nate?” Mitch asked her, and I was even curious.

“Because you are her brother, and I thought Nate had slept with her. And you were always hanging out with them. I don’t know. I was embarrassed. I’m the beta’s daughter and I couldn’t even protect myself.” She confessed and Duke nudged her.

“Ruby, you are my sister and I love you. I would never have sided with anyone else. And for the record, I never slept with her.” I told her through the link.

“Ruby, just because she is my sister, doesn’t mean I would support her, hurting one of my pack members. Ayla was right. As a pack, we failed you. But I hope you won’t reject me because of my sister,” Mitch told her.

“I don’t feel the bond yet. And I just want to talk with Ayla. Is she okay?” Ruby asked.

“She’s with her father and the Luna. She was unharmed. But you missed the Luna backhanding Bailey.” Mitch chuckled.

“They actually listened to Ayla?” Ruby asked, hopefully.

“Why wouldn’t they?” I asked her. She looked down at Duke before she answered.

“Bailey gets away with everything,” She answered. I hope one day my sister can confide in me everything that happened with Bailey. But one thing was for sure, my guilt was worse.

I always tried to be nice but firm with her. But after learning how Bailey actually is, I would no longer be a nice guy to her. She called my mate a bastard and has tormented my sister. Bailey was going to get what was coming to her.

“I’m sorry, Ruby. Truly, I am. And both Nate and I are here for you. And I know Ayla is as well. It was hard for the alpha to hold her back. She was ready to kill for you.” Mitch told her and her face lit up.

“Nate got lucky with her.” She told him.

“And I got lucky with you,” Mitch said, and Duke stepped in front of Ruby.

“Duke, I would never hurt her,” Mitch said and Duke growled at him.

“It’s okay, Duke,” Ruby said, patting him on the head.

“We should get back.” I opened the link with Ruby and Mitch.

“Ruby, you can ride on Aspen. It will take less time,” Mitch told her.

“And you’ll be less naked.” Ruby chuckled and Duke g*****d.

“Liking the view?” Mitch grinned, wiggling his eyebrows.

“It’s okay.” Ruby shrugged. And Duke chuckled.

Mitch pouted before shifting into Aspen, and Ruby climbed on his back. We took off towards the pack house. I had been trying to minklink the alpha, but he hasn’t been responding.

“Dad, where is Ayla?” I opened the link with him.

“Son, she’s with the alpha. Get to his office and he will explain everything. Did you replace your sister?” He asked, changing the subject.

“Yes, Mitch and I found her. She and Mitch are mates.” I told him.

“I’m just glad she’s safe. Meet me in the alpha’s office.” He said before closing the link.

It was in times like these; I wish I could minklink Ayla. I had no idea if she was okay, and I already felt guilty. Guilty for so many things, but not being able to be the one to calm her down was at the top of the list. There has to be a reason Alpha Atlas didn’t want me near Ayla.

So what the hell happened? And I’ll have to beat it out of Jaden. He was the one who was touching my mate. He should have been able to scent me on her, and he still touched her.

Max was waiting outside the pack house when the three of us arrived. Max threw me a pair of shorts when I shifted. I quickly pulled them on before storming into the pack house. I couldn’t smell Ayla as I rushed to the Alpha’s office. Bursting through the door, I found Jaden, Lukas, and Alex standing with my father.

Before my father could stop me, I punched Jaden in the jaw before throwing his body up against the wall and my forearm against his throat.

“Did you touch my mate?” I screamed in his face and he looked at me, terrified.

“Son, let him go. We are still waiting for the alpha.” My father demanded.

“No need. Jaden knows what the f**k he did, and he is going to say it to my face. What the f**k did you do to my mate?” I growled out as I pushed harder against his neck. His face was red as he tried to breathe, but I didn’t care. He hurt her, and I wanted him to admit it to me. To feel the fear she must have felt, to shift the way she did.

“He licked her neck.” I heard Alex yell out behind me.

“What?” I growled, looking over at Alex. He couldn’t meet my gaze as he watched the floor.

“He had her pinned to his chest and then he licked her. That’s when all hell broke loose.” Alex confessed. I punched Jaden again before my father pulled me off of him.

“You fucken piece of s**t! I’ll kill you myself!” I roared. My father holding me back.

The alpha threw open his office door before stepping into the scene of me fighting to get to Jaden.

“You three follow Beta Will for your punishment. And Jaden, if you ever touch my daughter again, I’ll let her mate kill you.” The alpha growled out his command.

“Yes, sir.” Jaden coughed out, and I growled, fighting against my father.

“Nate, sit. We need to talk about Ayla.” Alpha Atlas demanded, as my father left with the other three. Duke made a mental note to replace Jaden later.

“Where is she? I thought she was with you.” I asked him, taking a seat. My panic rose as he sat down behind his desk.

“Ayla had to leave.”

Ayla

“Dad, what is going on?” I asked him as he led me back to Nate’s house.

“Ayla, I can smell that bastard on you. And if I can smell it, Nate will smell it as well. What happened?” He asked me.

“I was dancing with Ruby. This guy started dancing with her and I went to get some water. This guy pinned me to the bar, and I panicked when I saw Ruby leave the tent. I told her to stay on the dance floor. And when I found Ruby, she was on the ground. I helped her up, and that guy held me while Bailey smacked me. He then licked up my neck and then I heard Nate calling out to me. I don’t know what happened.” I told him.

“Jaden is going to die for touching my daughter.” My father growled.

“Dad, do you know what happened?” I asked him. We came upon Nate’s house and there were a couple more SUVs and Jim was waiting by mine. He was putting my bags in the back. I started to panic.

“Dad, I’m sorry. Please don’t make me leave!” I yelled out, trying to pull out of his grip.

“Sweetie, please calm down. You need to leave for your own safety. People saw you and the hunters will be back. You need to get back to the water. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but you need to leave and you can’t take Nate with you. I’ve informed your grandmother and Matt of your arrival. Xander will also meet you there. I’m sending warriors and Jim will drive you.” He explained.

“Dad, I can’t leave Nate. Please don’t make me leave him?” I cried, my heart breaking. My father took my cheeks in his hands, making me look at him.

“I know, sweetie. But it’s no longer safe here and you need to shift. You need to get back to the ocean before you die. Melody didn’t die in a car accident. She died because she refused to go back to the ocean. On the next full moon, you will come back and Nate will be waiting. But for now, I need you to go. I will not let the hunters get you. I can’t protect you in the water, but I can protect you on land.” My father said, his eyes misty with unshed tears.

“Please, Ayla. I can’t lose you too. Not when I just got you back. I’m sorry about everything. I love you and you will also be my daughter. I’m so proud of the strong, independent woman you grew up to be. Now please, I need you to go.” My father pleaded.

I couldn’t say a word as my heart shattered. I nodded my head and my father kissed my forehead.

“I’ll watch out for Nate. I promise.” He whispered before leading me over to the passenger side of my uncle’s SUV.

“Dad, I can’t do this.” I breathed out.

“You can and you will. If anything happens to you, Nate will break. You are doing this to protect him,” he said. I couldn’t move and my father picked me up and placed me on the seat. He moved to place the seatbelt over my body. Jim was waiting behind the wheel.

“Jim will bring Bluey back and she will stay with him and mom. Don’t worry about Nate or us. Just do what you have to do.” He said, kissing my forehead.

After he closed the door, I lost all track of time. My heart twisted painfully in my chest the further I was taken away from Nate. How can this be a good idea? I stared at my arm. It still hadn’t changed back. I wonder if I need to change fully before I can shift back fully.

My head hurt as I tried to work through what had just happened. How did I even shift without being in the water? Why don’t I remember what happened? The guy licked my neck and then I remembered nothing. Why? I had so many questions and no one to answer them.

And then there was Nate. It’s going to break his heart that I left without saying goodbye to him. I didn’t want to say goodbye to him. I wanted him with me. f**k. How the hell were we going to make this work?

I closed my eyes and when I opened them again, Nate was standing with his arms around Mitch’s sister. My heart twisted painfully as I watched them.

“Nate!” I yelled out, but I could barely hear my voice. What the hell was going on? The last thing I remember was being in the vehicle with my grandfather. How can I be here with Nate?

“Ayla, you left, and I moved on. You should have said goodbye.” Nate said, his eyes never leaving Mitch’s sister as he stared down at her.

“Nate, I didn’t want to leave. I love you. Please don’t do this?” I cried, dropping to my knees.

“She is my second chance. The better option. We can never be happy together!” Nate growled and my heart broke.

“Nate, please don’t do this!” I cried, unable to meet his eyes.

“Not so strong now. You’re just the alpha’s bastard and you’ll be nothing more than an unwanted lowlife.” Mitch’s sister said, and they both laughed together.

“Nothing but an easy f**k.” Nate laughed.

“The beta’s son is too good for the alpha’s bastard daughter. And she doesn’t even have a wolf. Pathetic.” Mitch’s sister cackled.

“Nate, please stop!” I cried, paralyzed. My lungs twisted painfully as I tried to breathe.

This can’t be real. None of this can be real. Nate would never say these things.

“He cheated the bond. How are you so sure he won’t cheat on you?” Mitch’s sister asked.

My mind raced as I tried to figure out what was going on. Yes, maybe he did cheat the bond, but he was hurt. I didn’t know. I forgave him, didn’t I? We worked past that. But then why is he here with her? Why won’t he help me?

Looking back up, I clawed at my chest as I was unable to take the pain of what I was witnessing. Nate was kissing her.

“Nate!” I yelled out as the scene before me faded.

Something shook me and I sat up, panting, digging my nails painfully into my chest. It was a dream, but it felt so real. Would Nate really reject me for her? I sobbed as arms wrapped around me and pulled me against something hard.

“Ayla, it’s okay. We need to get you into the water.” I heard Xander but couldn’t form words as my sobs consumed me. I just shook my head against his chest.

“I know you miss him, but you will die if you don’t get in the water. I know this is hard, but I need you to trust me. We will be back by the full moon.” he whispered. But all I could think about was Nate with someone else.

“Please, make it stop!” I sobbed as I squeezed my chest. Xander grabbed my arms and wrapped them around his neck so I couldn’t rip my own breaking heart from my chest.

“Come on, princess. I need to get you in the water. Nate will be okay.”

“No, I can’t leave! I can’t do this!” I screamed.

“Please don’t make me do this?” I begged, breaking down even further than I already have. I felt weak and the mark on my chest burned with intensity.

My head was spinning as I leaned against Xander. I couldn’t focus on anything as black dots blurred my vision, and I felt my body go limp.

“Ayla, stay with me!” I heard Xander yell, but I couldn’t answer as my vision turned black.